Month: November 2016

We had the coolest opportunity today to go see a rocket launch! There was a one hour window for the launch to happen or they’d have to reschedule for tomorrow. We had a busy morning driving out to check in for the launch and then heading back a few hours later to board the shuttle. 

The window for the launch was 5:42-6:42pm. K fought her sleep HARD and stayed awake just long enough to see the launch! While Kensie didn’t really nap today, she was a trooper and we figured out a solid plan of pumping in the car that kept her on her eating “schedule”. 

After the launch, we went to our favorite restaurant, The Garlic, for dinner! All the excitement finally wore Kensie out and she slept the whole time. Guess we will have to go back soon since she missed out. 😉

Kensie had a big day on Friday. We went shopping and she was very impressed by the huge Christmas tree at Millenia Mall!

I thought about doing Santa photos – but then I decided it was best not to hand her to some man that’s been touching lots of kids all day to hold my newborn without her shots. Also, we had no interest in waiting in that line. We took one with Santa in the background instead! 

After our shopping day, mom and dad and their first night out without Kensie – which meant Kensie had her first babysitter! 

Anyone that knows me, knows I have an obsession with Christmas. The season, the music, the decor, anything and everything Christmas; something about it just makes life seem so much better! As we were running errands yesterday, I found Kensie the most perfect tree for her nursery. 

I usually don’t decorate until the day after Thanksgiving, but I couldn’t wait so I made a small exception. 🙊

If breastfeeding weirds you out, here’s your warning to stop reading now. 

For those of you still reading…I mentioned in yesterday’s blog that Kensie was crying uncontrollably last night. She’s had really bad gas and been very uncomfortable the past few days after feeding. I really don’t believe in babies crying for no reason, so, I looked up some of her eating habits and a lot of her actions are consistent with me having a fast “let down”. Basically, milk comes out too fast and too much for her so she gulps and swallows a lot of air and usually stops eating pretty quickly because her tummy is bubbling and laying on her back causes her to cry from the discomfort. 

I decided to try pumping and giving her bottles today to see if that helped her. While it made me a little sad, it seemed to work! I’ve had a happy, full baby all day. 

I plan to keep trying to give her a bottle in the morning when my supply is higher and see if it continues to work. 

Kensie also got a new bathtub! She LOVES to lie in warm water and the foam flower we got her doesn’t work well with our sink since it’s shallow. So for now, we have a clean, happy and sleeping baby! 

We have a 4 week old! I can’t believe how quickly time is flying by. 

Today, I realized how much I love bringing a stroller to the store. When we go somewhere I have the debate of do I put the car seat in a cart or bring the stroller in? Today, I made the decision to bring the stroller for one reason: cup holders. 

The hard part is, there’s never much room for buying things whether you have the cart or the stroller…like a big grocery trip? Yeah, not happening with a newborn in tow. Don’t worry though, I managed to buy plenty of Christmas decorations today. 😂

It is definitely a huge lifestyle change to always have this nugget with me when I run errands, but my absolute favorite thing is looking in my rear view mirror and seeing these wide eyes of wonder looking out the window while we drive. 

After our errands, K was the QUEEN of fighting sleep all afternoon. I won’t sugar coat it – this little babe wailed at the top of her lungs for way too long today and absolutely NOTHING would calm her down. I was so thankful Chris came home right after work and helped me calm her down. 

I think everyone asking about Kensie’s sleeping habits jinxed us last night…she went to bed at 11. Was up 1:30-2:30 and then again 4:45-5:30….she usually sleeps 4-5 hour stretches so that was a not so fun change up. BUT, she napped all morning and I was very thankful for that since I had to find new healthcare for us which is a stressful, expensive disaster.

When Kensie doesn’t have gas, she’s a very happy baby! She’s starting to smile and react more when I tickle her and it is adorable! 

Speaking of gas, during “No Sugar November” I’ve really noticed how much my diet effects her. Sounds like common sense, but I’m not just talking about making her gassy/spit-up. 

I was worried at first when she’d only eat for about 10 minutes when everything I read and was told said babies should eat 20-30 minutes. The doctor said she was growing perfectly and she was filling out well so I figured maybe she’s just a quick eater. 

I’ve realized when I am hydrated and eat nutrient dense calories that she is way more satisfied after eating and she eats shorter and less often! She also rarely spits-up (but she belches like her daddy). When I’m lacking in calories, or if I consume empty calories, she eats longer and more often. It’s seriously amazing what our bodies are capable of! 

Kensie and I had a very busy day! We ran lots of errands and were out most of the day and Kensie was a trooper. 

On Mondays Chris works and then has to go coach, so we met him for lunch since he wouldn’t be home until late.

When we were almost done with our errands, K was starting to get hungry and the car stopped for too long so she got mad…and when she gets mad she flails her arms and kicks her legs. Sometimes that results in her finger catching her bow and pulling it down her face. 

Lately we’ve started to get into a routine and tonight I found the importance of not throwing it off! We had to run out a little later than usual so it threw off her eating and bedtime routine. So, as I write this, it’s almost 11pm, I’m just now eating dinner and Kensie is half sleeping…good thing she doesn’t have to work tomorrow! #NewbornLife

Chris had to work again this morning so Kensie and I got some extra snuggles and I discovered the show “Parenthood”. We were going to run some errands…but I may or may not have binge watched Season 1 all morning. 

We also had our first tummy time today! The doctor said to start this at 4 weeks, but Kensie is a strong little nugget and loves holding her head up when I burp her, so we went for it. She’ll be doing push-ups in no time. 

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She wiggled around for a while on her belly, but I think she prefers “laying on her back” time and staring at everything, especially herself! 

Tonight, I gave stinker a bath and then snuggled her in her towel for a little before putting her PJs on. Rookie Mom move – I got peed on for the first time. Straight through her towel, down my stomach, on my shorts and down my leg. 

I’ll leave you all with this little gem because her smiles are my favorite!

Kensie and I had a pretty uneventful day. Chris had to work, so we hung out, chatted, cleaned the house, changed lots of diapers and washed lots of burp cloths, went for walks and cheered on the Knights! 

In other news, my best friend Casey has been in the hospital with her sweet little girl, Harper, since Thursday morning. She had been vomitting to the point of dehydration. They thought it was a stomach bug – but they’re looking into things further since 3 days later, she still cannot keep anything down. This evening they did an ultrasound and found fluid between her brain and her skull. They aren’t sure what it means yet and are doing an MRI early tomorrow morning to check it out and see if it’s related to her vomitting. Asking for lots of prayers for this sweet girl’s healing – and for her parents as they’re exhausted, overwhelmed and worried about her. 

Kensie put herself to sleep for the first time last night! Normally I don’t set her in her crib until she’s completely out. Last night she was still sort of awake and she wiggled and “chatted” some but she went right to sleep! While I was super proud, I realized how quickly she’s growing and changing. 
I’m usually trying to get a million things done any time she’s napping (work, laundry, cooking…anything and everything) but today each time she fell asleep, I decided I’d rather keep holding her than set her down. 

As of today, we have officially had the “spit up disaster” while trying to get out of the house. 

Kensie was chilling in her mamaroo, which she now loves thanks to Chris discovering the “fast” setting, so I got ready and got all of our things together to head out the door. I just had to change K’s diaper and put her clothes on. So, I did. Then I picked her up and she immediately spit up – all over her new, clean, adorable outfit. Super. 

We ran lots of errands today and Kensie helped me pick out some new clothes.  Thank goodness this little girl loves her car seat and stroller! 

K is finally asleep for the night and while I’m exhausted and would love to go lay in bed…I’d rather let her snuggle right here in my lap all night long. 

Kensie made up for her fussiness yesterday by being an angel baby today! We were super busy and left the house for 5 whole hours – which meant I fed her in the car for the first time. Mom win!!!

We dropped Lucy off at the groomers, met Chris for lunch, then went shopping until Lucy was done! 

A friend of mine gave me the BEST tip after reading yesterday’s blog about trying to figure out how to save milk! This morning I fed K on one side and pumped the other. Boom! Dilemma resolved!! 

Little boo wore her last newborn diaper today and we moved her up a size. 😢 I can’t believe it’s been 3 weeks since we brought this sweet girl home. Time needs to slow down! Though I’m sure I’m going to feel that way for the next 18 years…

Now if anyone has figured out something that keeps a pacifier in a newborns mouth, that’s next on my mission to discover!